Recap
Report
The Peacocks gained their third Southern League away win of the campaign after a beauty from Alfie Moulden proved the difference. Victory was centred on a strong team performance from back to front which Town needed against a Walton side lying in 5th place at kick-off and unbeaten at the Elmbridge Sports Hub since early March.
The Town side was shuffled around from the weekend draw with Bracknell, with recent recruit Josh Owers making his first start for the club on a gloomy yet mild evening in Surrey. Unfazed by their journey, Town were first to show when Tom Purrington suddenly found himself in space in the box but didn’t pull the trigger and the opening had gone. Opi Edwards then had the visitor’s first attempt at goal, seeing his jab from Jayden Nielsen’s cross blocked.
The Swans though soon began to assert themselves with assured possession, looking at ease on the plastic pitch they know so well although clear chances were hard to come by. Eoin Bolger fired a free kick over the top while a long ball from Joey Jones located Jordan Esprit who turned quickly onto the pass to test Josh Gould with a snapshot from the edge of the box. It was soon Walton keeper Jos Barker’s turn, getting down low to push away Moulden’s strike after an Ollie Woodhouse long throw had been cleared.
A great save from Gould then kept the scoreline level after 27 minutes, Bolger’s corner providing Dawid Rogalski with a close range header which the Taunton keeper instinctively punched over his own bar before Gould again was out quickly to clear ahead of Rogalksi who was looking to capitalise on a diagonal long pass. Taunton were very much holding their own though and were giving the Walton defence something to think about at the other end but without a real chance arising. Moulden’s pass found Tom Smith who took his opportunity first time with a shot which was lashed behind while Toby Down’s header at the far post squirmed loose to Smith who was unable to get a clean strike away amidst a crowd of bodies. Another nice passage of play concluded the half, but Purrington’s cross went straight to Barker as Town reflected on a job well done so far at the break.
It took only seven minutes of the second half for the Peacocks to make the crucial breakthrough. Purrington’s corner from the left was cleared as far as Owers whose shot cannoned back out to Purrington who did brilliantly to jink into the box and lay off to Moulden who curled a delightful finish from just outside the box beyond the despairing dive of Barker into the far corner.
The Swans responded, Josh Tobin’s shot parried and collected by Gould who then blocked Johl Powell’s effort after the Walton man had found acres of space down the right. In between those saves, Jake Hodgson had replaced Owers, which was soon followed by Jay Malshanskyj taking over from Aysa Corrick and the two new boys wasted no time in making an impression. Malshanskyj powered down the left to pave the opening and when a miscue from a defender wouldn’t fall for Smith the clearance was latched onto by Hodgson whose 20 yard volley was held by Barker at full stretch.
Malshanskyj again proved a handful down the left but couldn’t match his approach work when he fired into the side netting from a narrow angle before Walton came mightily close to the equaliser with 15 minutes remaining, Powell’s cross from the right being met by Rogalski sliding in to hit the post. Town had survived but the Swans were now seeing more of the ball as they probed for the leveller. However Gould and his fantastic defence were having none of it, the Taunton keeper punching away a Jones cross and then clutching an Olyott one. By now the Peacocks had utilised all their substitutions as they looked to see the game out. Malshanskyj saw one late effort from the edge of the box held by Barker while a free kick given away at the opposite end had no repercussions as Olyott fired it into the fencing. Town maintained their defensive solidity to navigate six minutes of stoppage time and claim a victory which was deservedly celebrated together at the final whistle by the Peacocks players, management and away support 🦚
Line-Ups
Taunton: Josh Gould, Opi Edwards (Jack Matthews 73), Ollie Woodhouse, Toby Down, Tom Purrington, Tom Smith (captain) (Eddie Jones 87), Alfie Moulden (Harris Feltham 84), Jayden Nielsen, Josh Owers (Jake Hodgson 62), Morgan Lewis, Aysa Corrick (Jay Malshanskyj 66).
Walton & Hersham: Jos Barker, Paul Field, Eoin Bolger, Joey Jones (captain), Jordan Esprit (Tom Olyott 51), Dawid Rogalski, Johl Powell, Anis Nuur, Josh Tobin, Elliott Bolton (Lucas Defise 64), Nana Owusu (Mason Obeng 79). Unused subs: Alex Andreou, Danny Ball
Officials
Referee: Daniel Malyon (Reading)
Referee’s Assistant 1: Jake Atkinson (Reading)
Referee’s Assistant 2: Matthew Funnell (Camberley)
Attendance
404
Reaction
“A really good disciplined performance and everyone’s put in a proper shift, massive win for us………” watch the reaction of manager Richard Luffman on Peacocks TV HERE
Highlights
Match highlights can be seen courtesy of Walton & Hersham FC HERE
Photos
Match photos from club photographer Debbie Gould can be viewed HERE
Taunton Town MOM
Josh Gould receives the Taunton Town Man Of The Match award from Club Director Lloyd Irish